SCHOLARLY & RESEARCH JOURNALS
PROFESSIONAL, TRADE & INDUSTRY JOURNALS
JOURNALS OF COMMENTARY
NEWSPAPERS & OPINION
POPULAR MAGAZINES
EXAMPLES

Journal of Popular Culture

Journal of Communication and Religion

Library Journal

Editor & Publisher

 

Mother Jones

National Review

New York Times

Washington Post

Time

People

VALUES & USES

Original research; theoretical, experimental or applied.  In-depth analysis of topics.  Lengthy articles.  Substantial book reviews.

Many are refereed/peer reviewed.

Current news, events & trends in a particular field.  Product, company and biographical info.  Statistics, including forecasts.  Some book reviews.
Commentary on political & social issues.  Often source of political viewpoint.  Speeches & interviews.  Often substantial book reviews.
Current, factual information.  News stories.  Local & regional focus.  Analysis & opinion on current events.  Excerpts from speeches.  Some book reviews.
Current events and news.  Primary source for popular culture.  Short articles.  Interviews.  Some book reviews.
LANGUAGE
Uses the technical vocabulary of the discipline; college-educated.
Written for practitioners, so uses jargon of the field.
Written for general, educated audience.
Written for general, educated audience.
Non-technical, often simple language.
AUTHORS
Researchers, academics, scholars.
Practitioners or journalists with subject expertise.
Variety of authors; some writers, specialists or members or sponsoring organization.
Journalists.
Journalists.
SOURCES
Footnotes, bibliographies; documentation is extensive.
Often cited, but full documentation not always provided.
Highly variable; often cited, but full documentation is not always provided.
Sources are rarely cited in full.
Original sources are usually lacking or obscure.
PUBLISHERS
Professional organizations, universities, research institutes & scholarly presses.
Commercial/trade publishers or professional associations.
Commercial/trade publisher or nonprofit organizations.
Commercial/trade publisher.
Commercial/trade publisher.
GRAPHICS

Graphs, charts & tables.

Ads are very rare.

Charts/tables, illustrations.

Ads related to profession.

Some have graphics, color and ads.

Pictures & charts.

Some ads.

Glossy; many graphics & pictures.

Lots of color ads.

ACCESS TOOLS

Art Literature International

Historical Abstracts

Sociological Abstracts

ABI/Inform

ERIC

PsycInfo

Expanded Academic

PAIS

Alternative Press Index

Proquest Newspapers

New York Times Index

Readers’ Guide to Periodical Literature